News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1887-08-18
BETTY'S MISTAKE.
BY ANNA KING.


Miss Campion was little re tlcss. She
| had dressed for dinner some time pyeyi-
ous.y, and nov moved backward and
! forward from her post of observation at
the window to consult the little Swiss
| clock hanging over the writing table
for her eyes were not so good as they had
! been.
There were few people living who were
| very dear to her, and of these she was ex-
pc ting this evening the two whom she
! loved best in the wOrld-hcr god
daughter and namesake, Betty Carew,
and Colin Campion, her nephew.
She had definite object in view in
bringing those young people together A
lew weeks before she had had an attack
! of bronchitis, and this illness hal sug-
gested to her the advislbility of making
her will. When she began to consider
how she should divide her property be-
tween Betty and Colin, her heart seemed
torn asunder. She could not calmly con-
template her old lace and china, and all
her favOrite possessions, going out of the
family, for she wanted Betty to haze
them. Colin must, of course, have tie
little estate, but then, too, he must havc
the money to keep it up, for she did not
wish Fordc to be neglected after her
death.
At length an idea occurred to her
which, if carried out, would o5viatc all
difficulties. Why should not Betty and
Coin marry and share her fortune
equally, without any troublesome division
of 1t? With this thought in her mind
Miss Campion had invited them to Fcrde,
and was now awaiting Betty's arrival
with some nervousness.
Her nervousness increased when she
had welcomed her goddaughter and
brought her into the drawing -room-for
it was necessary that she should make
Betty understand how desirable a hus-
band Colin would be without raising anv
suspicion in her mind
''You are very tired, dear" she said.
fastening to pour out cup of tea with
trembling fingers. II shall never be-
come reconciled to trains-they are so
noisy and dusty. 1t is pity we are in
such a hurry always nowadays. They
managed better in the last century, when
journeys were made in leisurclv manner
by coach"
'If we were eighteenth century ladies.
godmother, | should be at the rec:orv at
this moment-fOr the journey from
Devonshire wou,d have been impossible
ny hot '6@rh 6orh ,S,I,S Sc a"3 cid th"t >vere
'lf you put it in that way, dear, so am
|. / hope this visit will be p'easanter
than usual" she added, nervously. ''Mv
nephew Colin is coming tonight; he is
going to stay for some time"
''He is doctor in London, isn't he?
| have heard you speak of him"
Il dare say. He has bought practi. e
there, " answered Miss Campion. "He is
very clever in his profession, and s.
tender and kind! 1t is quite beautiful
to see him with children. But h. ought
to marry; there is always .e,udicc in
favor of married DOCTORS"
''TOu had better tell him so," sid
Betty, with little sm'l le
Il mean to do so; and think he will
be settled before long" sad the cd
lady, nodding her head mysteriously.
och, if he is already in love, he will
not need your Twice, godmother!
But he is not in love, my dear" re-
turned Miss Camp;on hastily. "You
must not think that Colin is a foolish
sentimental young man. Indeed, h. is
considered rather cold in society; and
he is as proud as you are, Betty.
'Will he marry if he is not in love "
asked Betty, raising her eyebrows
slightly.
"Oh, no, my dear; of course not"
Then you think he will obedientIy
fall in love wheu you tell him that he
ought to marry2 He must have his
emotions under admirable control?"
''He would not fall in love with any
one, said Miss Campion, with only
vague understanding of Betty's sarcasm;
''but he cannot fail to see what sweet
girl"
Il see,' interrupted Betty, quietly,
''you are saving him a great deal of un-
necessary trouble in suggesting whom as
we'll as when he should marrv.''
Colin would not marry any girl whom
he could not like and respect" said
Miss Campion, little anxiously.
"Oh, no. But he is not sentimental,
suggested Betty. ''Ihe girl he marries
will b. happy woman!'
''She will, indeed" agreed her god
mother. Il am so glad that you a2-
preciate Colin
Soon after Betty had left the drawing
room to dress for dinner Doctor Cam
pion arrived. When the first greetings
were over, his aunt remark ed, tentatively:
II have asked Betty Carcw to stay
with me while you are here, Colin. You
don't know Betty2'
'No," said Colin.
"She is a sweet girl, )" said Mis- Cam
pion nerYOusly.
SIS She"
"a v,ry sweet girl. Do you know,
Colin, l have thought lately that YOU
ought to marry? Married doctors are al
ways the most successful
"And you think Miss Betty would
make good doctors wife," questioned
Colin, suppressing smile at his aunt's
transparent plot.
''She is very dear to me, Colin: |
should like Betty to be mistress here
when | die, " she returned wistfully.
Colin kissed her and said gently
81 should like to please you in al
things, Aunt Betty, but | must reserve
the right of choosing my own wife. /
hold some antiquated views about mar
riage-among the rest, that man should
love his wife Moreover, there is the
: IiSt -ltt Illdl MISS \ dItW Nollltl NOT ne
overcome by my many and undoubtcd
charms. But we will let that pas ."
Il won't say anything more about it,
said Miss Campion, with Il sigh; ,'uut
when YOU know her you will undcrstanI
how happy she will make some one some
day"
AT dinner Colin sat opposite to Betty,
and, as he watched her beautiful, tender
face, he was quite prepared to indar>c his
aunt's opinion of her goddaughter,
though Betty was anything but kind T.
him.
'rDon't you think Colin is very much
ike the painting of my grand father in the
drawing Betty" asked Miss Camp
piOn.
'Do you mean that very handsome
soldier hanging between the windows"
asked Betty, regarding Colin critically.
"Oh, no, godmother; l cannot see the
faintestr, scmblancc. -
Miss Canpion hastily changed the sub
ject, to spare her nephcw's feelings,
though Colin was inwardly delighted at